Rocking chair
Low, high, low, high, slow and swaying, like a rocking chair. One of the octave bass patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low C (little finger, 5) and high C (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count the eighth notes: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Play low C on 1, then high C on 4, then low C on 7, then high C on 10.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G and high G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Rocking chair on piano?
Low, high, low, high, slow and swaying, like a rocking chair. The root alternating low and high octave on every note. Musicians call it rocking octaves (12/8).
Is Rocking chair hard to play?
It is a beginner pattern. Play it with your left hand alone at 60% speed until it feels steady, then add the other hand.
Which songs use Rocking chair?
Rhythm Of My Heart by Rod Stewart, U Smile by Justin Bieber and Can't Be Tamed by Miley Cyrus use Rocking chair. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.